Live data from Hacker News

Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

bedelstein.com

141–150 of 501 posts

Re: Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

#141
post #16

digikey, jameco, mcmaster, ingram... most of these online catalog parts houses have excellently functional websites. but like, even back in the day distribution warehouses had excellent terminal based inventory search and ordering interfaces over packet switched networks. anyone remember datanet?

I'd throw in smatec if you're looking for cables or electrical connectors. They at least used to send individual samples for free as well.

Re: Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

#143

Mechanical Engineer and product designer here. I've been using mcmaster daily for 20 years to do my job. It is definitely the standard by which all others are judged. I'll gladly pay 2, 3, 5, even 10x the price to get it from McMaster. The service, the CAD models, I have what I need the next day. As an example of the level of their service, you can send them a box of loose parts, no part numbers, no markings, and the…

Maybe your customers or employer would like you to save 2, 3, 5, 10x the price… My memories of McMaster from doing my hobbies is that it is outrageously expensive.

Honestly, not really. They want the project done sooner, and McMaster is a means to that end. The supply chain team can find a better longer term vendor later.

Re: Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

#144
post #62

McMaster is a great choice when you can value your time. There is no comparison shipping. You need an industrial tricycle that gets the job done? Great. Add an industrial tricycle to your cart. Unless there is a meaningful difference between models, there will be only one choice. It will be curated and it will do what you generally expect it to do. You'll pay more than you can get it for elsewhere, but it will do the…

Please tell me there's a story behind an "industrial tricycle?"

https://www.worksmancycles.com/media/businesscycle8pgcatlog2...

https://www.worksmancycles.com/movers.html

Re: Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

#145

McMaster is great. This article is also completely glossing over another reason to use them: Their shipping is somehow insanely fast. Almost everything is next-day delivery, even for standard shipping. They've somehow got their logistics COMPLETELY nailed. I believe they have their own agreements with USPS/FedEx/etc... McMaster is generally not the cheapest, but they're almost always the fastest and the easiest. Mach…

I'll second that. I ordered an 8-foot-long aluminum bar for $25, which, at the time, was too long to ship with traditional shippers. So, a semi trailer showed up at my door. Shipping cost $8.

How can they make money doing that?

Re: Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

#146

Mechanical Engineer and product designer here. I've been using mcmaster daily for 20 years to do my job. It is definitely the standard by which all others are judged. I'll gladly pay 2, 3, 5, even 10x the price to get it from McMaster. The service, the CAD models, I have what I need the next day. As an example of the level of their service, you can send them a box of loose parts, no part numbers, no markings, and the…

Maybe your customers or employer would like you to save 2, 3, 5, 10x the price… My memories of McMaster from doing my hobbies is that it is outrageously expensive.

Looks like an opportunity to make something as delightful and lower the prices.

Re: Mcmaster.com is the best e-commerce site I've ever used

#150
Purchasing from McMaster is a very refreshing experience. Couldn't agree more. Loads quickly, looks the same on any browser I tried it on, I don't feel lost or like I'm wasting my time. However, it raises a quetion for me, how is it that they're able to stay in business and simultaneously respect their customers' time and sanity? If you look at the way other sites are designed, you'd just assume there's no way to make money with a frictionless, no frills, no distractions, no tricks storefront.
Post reply on HN